Your Restaurant at Home

Making restaurant-inspired meals at home can save you money and even help you eat well. Try these delicious and better-for-you recipes.

Winter is a good time to start an eating-in-more-often habit. For one thing, it can help you control portions (and, therefore, calories and carbs). Eating at home is also an easy way to cut expenses so you can save up for holiday gifts. Here are some ideas to help you make home-cooked meals feel restaurant-special.

Find your Favorites

We have lots of dishes that will make your mouth water. If your meal plan doesn’t include your restaurant-inspired favorite, you can use the swap option to work it into your daily menu. Think of the last restaurant meal you loved and search for similar dishes using our keywords box. You might discover recipes like Peanut Thai Noodle Salad or Shortcut Chicken Parmesan. Do this before you go to the grocery store so you can add necessary ingredients to your shopping list. Also let your family suggest a recipe they would like to try. It’s a great way to get them excited about better eating!

Give “Sandwich Night” a New Spin

Love the offerings on a bistro menu? Check out our suggestions for fast-fix entrées like Chicken Salad Panini. It’s a great way to use leftover chicken or turkey breast. Plus, you can make it in less time than it’d take for you to drive to your favorite sandwich joint. Opt for a side order of fresh fruit instead of chips.

Go Gourmet

You can easily drop a hundred dollars at a fancy restaurant. Instead, spend just 15 minutes in the kitchen and turn plain tilapia fillets into Caribbean Nut-Crusted Fish -- a true chef’s special that doesn’t require special training to prepare. While your entrée is baking, prepare some simple side dishes (like steamed green beans and brown rice), and set the dining room table with linens and candles.

Think out of the Take-Out Box

The next time you want Chinese food, head for the fridge instead of the phone. You can make Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry in just 10 minutes, as long as you keep some frozen stir-fry veggies and KRAFT Light Catalina Dressing on hand.